Things to do off the 606 at Churchill Park

The 606 entrance at Damen Avenue is your gateway to the heart of Wicker Park off the Bloomingdale Trail.

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Wednesday May 27 2015

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The Churchill Park is bound to be one of the more heavily trafficked entrances to the Bloomingdale Trail. For one, the park has long been a popular spot for area canines and humans looking to play. Secondly, this gateway to the 606 is the closest to the heart of Wicker Park, one of the major culture hubs on the North Side. The neighborhood is loaded with rock venues, taco restaurants, nightclubs, boutiques and galleries. Oh, in case you're wondering, the park is not named for Winston Churchill, but rather the Churchill Cabinet Company, which owned the lot up until 1973.

RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to the 606

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What to do off the 606 at Churchill Park

Apartment Number 9

Shopping
Boutiques
Wicker Park
price 3 of 4

Your hip New York City friend is in town for the weekend, but his suitcase is lost somewhere between here and La Guardia. The simple solution: Book it to this tiny Bucktown men’s boutique, which boasts an exclusive collection of pricey clothing including Seize sur Vingt dress shirts ($188-$210), skater-esque Trovata pants ($150) and Paul Smith jackets ($500-$600). For wannabe trendsetters who need some fashion advice, the always-stylish salespeople can put together a smashing outfit in minutes.

Photograph: Wendell Remington

BFF Bikes

Shopping
Sports
Bucktown
price 3 of 4

Owned by a pair of, yes, BFFs, this new bike shop works diligently with customers to find the best bike for them. It offers Bianchi, Giant and Public bikes, as well as clothing for commuters and casual cyclists. Tune-ups and repairs are also available, as are group riding sessions. Serious female cyclists will dig the BFF Racing team.

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Photograph: Donna Rickles

The Charleston

Bars
Cocktail bars
Bucktown
price 1 of 4

Hipsters, yuppies, freaks, dirty old men and bluegrass bands used to pack this beloved corner tap, which changed ownership in 2011 and underwent a bit of a personality shift. Darker, sleeker and with more focus on DJs with underground cred, the Charleston has morphed into quite a scene. The newer Bucktown residents are happy as clams, plunking down tens for Moscow mules, while those dirty old men have shuffled off to find the few remaining dives nearby.

Attractions
Parks and gardens
Bucktown

Containing a junior baseball field, an event plaza and a dog-friendly area, Churchill Field Park is a popular destination for area pet owners. The Bucktown park is an entry point on the 606, offering an elevated route to nearby Logan Square and Humboldt Park.

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Photograph: Martha Williams

Club Lucky

Restaurants
Italian
Wicker Park
price 2 of 4

The nearby condo dwellers with kids in tow may be a different crowd than the Polish regulars who once frequented this joint post-Prohibition, but the owners have gone out of their way to restore the original cocktail-culture look of the ’50s. The place is always packed, thanks to a dependable, old-school, family-style Italian menu with standouts like grilled calamari, chicken Vesuvio, and escarole with sausage and beans. But if you’re kidphobic, go late for the lounge vibe of Sinatra standards and signature martinis.

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Photograph: Damien Thompson

Danny's Tavern

Bars
Cocktail bars
Bucktown
price 1 of 4

The Bucktown favorite has a line on Friday and Saturday nights that’s worth the wait. Half bar and half apartment, the space will make you nostalgic for the house parties of your college days, if you aren’t still living them. Grab a glass of whiskey or dirt-cheap PBR and elbow your way into the crowd packed wall-to-wall with hipsters. Rotating DJs play everything from throwback 80’s hip-hop to Brazilian samba, and there are plenty of dark candlelit corners to canoodle in if you hit it off with someone on the dance floor.

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Photograph: Zach Long

Dimo's Pizza

Restaurants
Pizza
Wrigleyville
price 1 of 4

The pizza-by-the-slice joint caters to the young, drunk Wrigleyville crowds, who will noisily wait in line for mac and cheese, gyro or buffalo wing pizza. These toppings sound like they shouldn't work, but surprisingly, they do. It's BYO, so off hours, it's not a bad spot to meet up with friends before or after a Cubs game.

Photograph: Martha Williams

En Hakkore

Restaurants
Korean
Bucktown
price 1 of 4

Korean tacos are old news, but they feel fresh again at this delightful Korean-fusion spot, where Indian-style parathas replace masa tortillas to unexpectedly magical effect. There is more to En Hakkore, however, than these instantly famous bulgogi tacos: Bowls of bibimbap overflow with fresh vegetables and easily serve two; cups of milky, nutty Job's-tears tea provide a warm-up on cool nights; and a selection of packaged sweets, such as Pocky, will make anyone feel like a kid in an adorable candy store.

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Fjällräven

Shopping
Sports
Wicker Park
price 3 of 4

This Swedish heritage outdoor brand brings Scandinavia-designed outerwear, apparel, accessories and gear to Chicago with its first retail store in the city. The store also carries a curated selection of outdoor products from partner brands like Hanwag, Brunton and Primus, making this a one-stop shop for your next outdoor adventure.

Flatiron Arts Building

Art
Galleries
Wicker Park

The local landmark contains a smattering of artists’ studios open to the public Saturdays and Sundays and the first Friday night of each month. Recently Brainstorm Comics took up residence in the building, stocking books and collectibles as well as hosting a monthly comedy show. Resident artists’ work can be seen in the Bank of America branch on the ground floor, which still hopes to be forgiven for replacing the beloved coffee shop Filter.

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